"Gunboats hitherto have been held in the utmost contempt, owing to a false prejudice the inhabitants of this vast City now begin to believe, that the City cannot be defended without the Auxillary force of this floating defence."
He has gotten many requests from the First masters of New York ships to joining his flotilla and that he could have a hundred of them if he chose.
Plus, he feels their is a "prejudice of the Navy against G Boats" because the Navy Department means that appropriations to the gunboats mean there is less for regular warships like frigates.
"Gun Boats take the place of Frigates in the defence of harbours therefore frigates instead of being employ'd for that purpose go on the bosom of the Ocean and Cruize for Glory & pelf."
In case you're wondering, pelf means money. In the case of frigates that would be prize money from captures of British ships and shipping. (I had to look it up myself.)
--Brock-Perry
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